Min. [Named 1804: f. as CERIUM + -ITE.] A very rare mineral, the hydrated silicate of Cerium (of which it is the chief source).
Found as yet only in an abandoned copper mine at Bastnäs near Riddarhyttan in Westmannland, Sweden, in compact fine-grained masses of indistinct blackish-red color, and also in short six-sided prisms. It contains also the rare metals Lanthanum and Didymium, and generally a small quantity of Yttrium. Called by Klaproth ochroite.
1804. W. Nicholson, Jrnl. Nat. Phil., XII. 105 (title), Experiments on a Mineral formerly called false Tungsten, now Cerite, in which a new Metal has been found.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 433. There is a mineral found at Ridderhytta in Sweden, very like tungsten, of a reddish colour, and which has been called cerite.
1837–68. in Dana, Min.
1885. Erni, Min. Simplified, 317. Color of cerite, reddish-gray.
b. Cerite metals: cerium, didymium, and lanthanum (Watts, Dict. Chem., 3rd Supp. 418).
